| << Back
|
 Noisette Climbers
The graceful growth and lasting double flowers of these old roses make them delightful climbers. One of the first, the fragrant 'Desprez à Fleurs Jaunes', raised in France in 1830, is still available and can be seen at the National Trust garden at Mottisfont in Hampshire.Bourbon
Bourbon roses have the perfect shape of the old roses mixed with the silky petals of the China rose. Some of the most beautiful and scented of this species are the shrub roses, such as 'Mme Isaac Pereire' and 'Mme Pierre Oger', but climbing varieties such as 'Souvenir de la Malmaison', 1893, are difficult to better. 'Zephirine Drouhin', 1868, has long been popular and is ideal round a door or gateway, for its deep pink flowers are scented and it is thornless. |
|
| This century has seen an enormous growth in hybridisation and rose growers, such as Wilhelm Kordes and Sam McCredy, have developed many-new hybrid tea and floribunda climbers. 'Climbing Iceberg', 'New Dawn', 'Casino', 'Maigold', 'Meg', and Handel to name but a few. Many of these new climbers are less vigorous than older varieties and make excellent cover for low walls or fences. They also look dramatic over a pillar with the stems trained in a spiral shape. Ramblers
The accepted difference between climbers and ramblers lies in their flowering habits and the way they grow. Climbers, a misleading description in itself, since these roses scramble rather than climb tend to have large flowers in small |
 |
|
|
 trusses on stiff stems which are easy to train onto walls and fences. Their shoots can be trained horizontally to promote new growth along their entire length. Ramblers have a more lax habit with long flexible canes which can be trained easily over arches and pergolas. They have smaller flowers in large dusters and flower once only in midsummer.Before the introduction of new species from the Far East, ramblers were derived from Rosa arvensis, Rosa sempervirens and Rosa moschata. A favourite such as 'Felicite Perpetue', derived from the evergreen Rosa sempervirens, is an admirable climber bearing clusters of rosette shaped, small white flowers. It is very hardy, growing as far north as Scotland and flowers well even in shade on a north wall. 'The Garland', descended from Rosa moschata, is another vigorous climber with masses of simple creamy, fragrant, white flowers. |
|
|
| At the turn of the century, Ernest Wilson brought many species roses from China to Kew Gardens, including Rosa helenae, Rosa sinowilsonii, Rosa filipes, Rosa rubus. They provided breeders with species from which to develop new climbing roses. Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate' and direct hybrids, such as 'Wedding Day' and 'Paul's Himalayan Musk', grow to 40 feet. The full effect of these true ramblers can be seen when the flowering branches are allowed to cascade. They make a breathtaking sight but their sheer size puts them out of bounds for most small gardens. Many modern day ramblers owe much to Rosa wichurana, a scented evergreen trailing rose, native to Japan and eastern China, introduced to this country in 1891. Known as the Memorial Rose in the USA from its frequent use in cemeteries, it gave rise to such famous ramblers as 'Alberic Barbier', grown in France by the famed breeder M. Barbier, who went on to produce 'Albertine' in 1921. At the same time in the US, Rosa wichurana produced more celebrated ramblers - notably 'Dorothy Perkins'. |
 |
|
|
| Climbing Rose Gallery >> |
|
|
|
